I used to have an article, from '64 or so, about how it was something like 20% cheaper to put an Ambassador engine in a Rambler than it was to buy a V-8 Chevy II, and it would still be faster
Plus, the old Hudson/Nash 327 could be bored and stroked to something like 444

Gremlins were cool. Lots of the bodies were used on Modified dirt and asphalt cars. As far as V-8 Vegas, they can work with front to rear clip connectors. I had a '76 Monza 2+2 which is the same as a Vega chassis. The one I had was a factory original V-8. The engine was bad and I put a '66 Vette 340 HP 327 in it. The car had full length headers with 2.5" dual exhaust to the rear bumper with Hush Thrush mufflers, big front and rear sway bars, 4 speed manual trans, front air dam, rear spoiler, frame connectors. Very light car that would go and handle. It surprised me and a lot of people. I miss that car.

In the 70's, in the midwest, on a quiet night, you could actually hear the cars rusting away

When I was in college, one of my teachers had a Pinto, maybe five or six years old, that we used to call "The White Knight Special" because it was more mud than tin
Then there was the Honda Civic my buddy's GF had ...
By '85, it wasn't much more than a collection of loose parts flying in formation

Quote:

Nearly every factory car built in the mid '70's was a pos as I recall. Truly a sad era in automotive history...

. I have the Pontiac Astre Formula version of that Vega wagon above, debating on whether to put the SBC 305" or 405" engine in it...

1972-74 Randall got 30 401 crate motors from AMC. They were putting out 255 SAE net at this time, and that was enough to drop a Gremmy into the 13s.
AMC planned a factory Hornet S/C 401, but insurance scared em off, only used the 360.
Word is AMC's 1978 304 V8 Pacer option was based on Randall's work putting the 401 into Pacer.

I bought and drove several Gremlins back in the day.. When they would die, or the door fell off. I would canniblize the dash instruments, fuse box and switches/relays, Door locks and front spindles/hubs..

Hubs make excellant trailers or tow dollies. Dash and electrics are great rod parts as were the dor latches..

There was a chevy powered one that was a regular winner at Central Michigan Dragway.

I bought and drove several Gremlins back in the day.. When they would die, or the door fell off. I would canniblize the dash instruments, fuse box and switches/relays, Door locks and front spindles/hubs..

Hubs make excellant trailers or tow dollies. Dash and electrics are great rod parts as were the dor latches..

There was a chevy powered one that was a regular winner at Central Michigan Dragway.

LOL...Hopefully, not the passenger side door....I used to hang them on the assembly line in the Brampton, Ont plant...72-75

I builta couple of trailers with those hubs....still pulling one of them

If your going to put a hot V-8 in one of those, do reinforce the chassis
Saw one at the drags one time that flexed enough coming off the line to put a crease all the way down the roof. Broke every window in the car

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